WSOP Paradise: Super Main Event with a $72 Million Prize Pool

In December 2025, WSOP Paradise set a record — the Super Main Event generated a prize pool of over $72 million, making it the eighth largest in poker history.

In December 2025, the WSOP Paradise series hosted a historic event — the Super Main Event with a $25,000 buy-in, which generated a record-breaking prize pool for a tournament held outside Las Vegas, surpassing the guaranteed $72,000,000. The tournament not only fulfilled the organizers’ ambitious expectations but also became the eighth largest prize pool in poker history. WSOP Paradise Super Main Event: How It Unfolded The WSOP Paradise Super Main Event was announced as the single poker tournament with the largest guarantee ever. Organizers promised a minimum prize pool of $72,000,000, which sparked widespread excitement in the poker community. Renowned pro Daniel Negreanu called the guarantee “bonkers” when it was first revealed. The tournament featured several starting days: Day 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, as well as two days of late registration (Day 2a and 2b). On Day 1a alone, 869 players entered, including bracelet winners, GGPoker qualifiers, and Daniel Negreanu himself, who fired six entries that day. On Day 1b, the field grew to over a thousand players, and in the subsequent starting days (1c and 1d), hundreds more joined the action. By the middle of Day 1d, the fourth starting day, the “magic” threshold of 2,400 entries — the number needed to meet the guarantee — had been surpassed. Late registration remained open until the end of Day 2b, and by its close, the total number of entries reached 2,891. Prize Pool and Place in History Although the final prize pool distribution has yet to be announced, it is already clear that the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event became the eighth largest prize pool in the history of poker tournaments. Excluding the WSOP Main Events in Las Vegas, this tournament holds the record for the largest prize pool among all other events worldwide. For comparison, such massive prize pools are typically only seen at the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, which is traditionally regarded as the highlight of the poker calendar. However, WSOP Paradise managed to attract a huge number of professionals and amateurs from around the globe, not only meeting but exceeding the ambitious guarantee. Registration Process and Participants From the outset, it was clear that interest in the tournament was enormous. On the very first starting day — Day 1a — 869 players took their seats. Among them were not only seasoned pros but also qualifiers who had won their entries through GGPoker satellites. Daniel Negreanu, one of the most recognizable names in poker, fired six entries that day in an effort to advance to the next stages. On Day 1b, the number of participants surpassed 1,000, making it clear the tournament was well on its way to hitting the guarantee. In the following days — Day 1c and 1d — hundreds more players registered, and by the middle of the final starting day, it was evident the guarantee would be met. After late registration closed on Day 2b, the total number of entries stood at 2,891. Players noted that the tournament’s structure and the massive guarantee made the event extremely appealing. Many traveled specifically for the chance to compete for a share of the record-setting prize pool. The Tournament in the Context of the Global Poker Industry The 2025 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event will be remembered not only for its enormous prize pool but also for its flawless organization. The tournament ran smoothly, and interest from both players and spectators was exceptionally high. Organizers confirmed that reaching such a large guarantee was made possible by the active participation of players from around the world and an extensive satellite system on GGPoker. PokerNews editor Will Shillibier noted that as the starting days progressed, it became increasingly clear that WSOP would indeed achieve its ambitious goal. According to him, players were either drawn by the tournament’s format or simply couldn’t pass up such a massive guarantee. Key Results Table Buy-in: $25,000 Guarantee: $72,000,000 Total entries: 2,891 Starting days: Day 1a (869 players), Day 1b (over 1,000 players), Day 1c and 1d (hundreds of players each) Late registration: until the end of Day 2b Tournament’s place in history: 8th largest prize pool among all poker tournaments, 1st outside Las Vegas What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For players in PPPoker clubs, the experience of the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event highlights just how important large guarantees and top-notch tournament organization are. Even the most ambitious goals can be achieved with strong community support and a well-designed satellite structure — something that’s just as relevant for online clubs. The surge of interest in major events shows that players are willing to invest and compete for significant prizes when they trust the platform’s transparency and reliability. For PPPoker clubs, this is a clear signal to focus on tournament structure, promotion, and qualification opportunities for their members. Moreover, the success of WSOP Paradise proves that world-class events can be created even outside traditional poker hubs. For PPPoker clubs, this is an invitation to experiment with formats, increase guarantees, and attract as many players as possible to their events.